Volatile Organic Compound Profiles From Wheat Diseases Are Pathogen-Specific and Can Be Exploited for Disease Classification

Plants and fungi emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are either constitutively produced or are produced in response to changes in their physico-chemical status. We hypothesized that these chemical signals could be utilized as diagnostic tools for plant diseases. VOCs from several common wheat pathogens in pure culture (Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium avenaceum, Fusarium poae, and Parastagonospora nodorum) were collected and compared among isolates of the same fungus, between pathogens from different species, and between pathogens causing different disease groups [Fusarium head blight (FHB) and Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB)]. In addition, we inoculated two wheat varieties with either F. graminearum or P. nodorum, while one variety was also inoculated with Blumeria graminis f.sp. tritici (powdery mildew, PM). VOCs were collected 7, 14, and 21 days after inoculation. Each fungal species in pure culture emitted a different VOC blend, and each isolate could be classified into its respective disease group based on VOCs with an accuracy of 71.4 and 84.2% for FHB and SNB, respectively. When all collection times were combined, the classification of the tested diseases was correct in 84 and 86% of all cases evaluated. Germacrene D and sativene, which were associated with FHB infection, and mellein and heptadecanone, which were associated with SNB infection, were consistently emitted by both wheat varieties. Wheat plants infected with PM emitted significant amounts of 1-octen-3-ol and 3,5,5-trimethyl-2-hexene. Our study suggests that VOC blends could be used to classify wheat diseases. This is the first step toward a real-time disease detection in the field based on chemical signatures of wheat diseases.

SEED TREATMENT WITH TRICHODERMA AND CHEMICALS TO IMPROVE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SANITARY QUALITY OF WHEAT CULTIVARS1

ABSTRACT Seed treatment with fungi of the genus Trichoderma spp. provides several benefits, including plant growth promotion, stress tolerance, and pathogenic fungi control. Moreover, to avoid inadequate doses and unnecessary costs, these treatments must be applied in proper amounts. However, no study has evaluated their applicability in wheat seeds. This study aimed to determine the most efficient dose of Trichoderma-based products applied as a seed treatment for improving the physiological and sanitary quality of the wheat cultivars TBIO ‘Toruk’ and TBIO ‘Sossego’, besides comparing the performance of biological and chemical agents. Two biological treatments (Trichoderma asperellum SF 04 and Trichoderma harzianum IBLF006) were applied at 0 (control), 5 × 10 11 , 1 × 10 12 , 1.5 × 10 12 , and 2 × 10 12 colony-forming units (CFU) 100 kg–1 seed. Two chemical treatments (carboxin + thiram and pyraclostrobin + thiophanate-methyl + fipronil) were applied at the manufacturers’ recommended doses. Seed germination, shoot and root lengths, seedling dry matter, and sanitary quality were analyzed under laboratory conditions, while seedling emergence, shoot length, and shoot dry matter were analyzed under greenhouse conditions. The optimal dose for wheat seed treatment with T. asperellum SF 04 and T. harzianum IBLF006 was 2 × 10 12 CFU 100 kg–1 seed. When comparing biological and chemical products, our findings indicate that both options are adequate for managing wheat diseases and providing seedling growth via seed treatment.

Molecular analyses in wheat and Aegilops tauschii reveals a new orthologue of the leaf rust resistance gene Lr19 on 7DL chromosome of Ae. tauschii

Leaf rust is one of the most devastating wheat diseases worldwide, to which many resistance genes have been ‎successfully introgressed ‎from wheat wild relatives. Though the Thinopyrum ‎ponticum-derived leaf rust resistance gene Lr19, is widely effective worldwide and previous studies ‎have shown its likely presence in Aegilops tauschii, no ‎thorough investigation has been conducted to confirm this. The present study aimed to ‎examine the presence of Lr19 in Ae. tauschii using a collection of molecular and bioinformatic analysis. Accordingly, the Thatcher line was used as susceptible, and a Thatcher+Lr19 (TcLr19) and Agatha were used as resistant lines. CDHLQ pathotyping coupled with DNA markers genotyping verified the presence of an Lr19 orthologue on Ae. tauschii 7DL (AtLr19). Sequencing of the GB marker products from Ae. tauschii and TcLr19 showed 99% homology in these fragments, confirming phenotyping and genotyping results. Both isolated segments were matched to a putative melatonin biosynthesis gene, namely O-methyltransferase-2 (OMT2) mapped to 7DL, with 100% identity. A hierarchical gene network was reconstructed using all identified putative genes within a genomic region containing 2.5 cM upstream and downstream of the OMT2 gene. Results indicated that several numbers of important biotic stress-responsive genes such as RPM1, RGA2, TRIUR3, BURP12, and myosin-11, were located downstream of melatonin as a master regulator molecule through the OMT2 node. To our knowledge, this is the first report of finding an orthologue for ‎Lr19 in Ae. tauschii, which provides insights into the possible regulatory route of LR19.

Advances in identifying stripe rust resistance genes in cereals

Stripe rust is one of the most serious wheat diseases of the world, usually resulting in massive loss of grain production. The most effective and environmentally friendly way to control the spread of stripe rust is to plant wheat varieties that carry stripe rust resistance genes. The identification and utilization of stripe rust resistance genes is very important for achieving this goal. This chapter summarizes the hazards of stripe rust and the current progress in the discovery of stripe rust resistance genes. It also introduces the advanced methods to identify Yr genes. The chapter also shows the successful application of Yr genes in wheat breeding program in southwestern China, which is the largest epidemic area of stripe rust in the world. The further identification and applications of Yr genes are also discussed.

Oligosaccharins as Elicitors of Defense Responses in Wheat

Wheat is a highly relevant crop worldwide, and like other massive crops, it is susceptible to foliar diseases, which can cause devastating losses. The current strategies to counteract wheat diseases include global monitoring of pathogens, developing resistant genetic varieties, and agrochemical applications upon diseases’ appearance. However, the suitability of these strategies is far from permanent, so other alternatives based on the stimulation of the plants’ systemic responses are being explored. Plants’ defense mechanisms can be elicited in response to the perception of molecules mimicking the signals triggered upon the attack of phytopathogens, such as the release of plant and fungal cell wall-derived oligomers, including pectin and chitin derivatives, respectively. Among the most studied cell wall-derived bioelicitors, oligogalacturonides and oligochitosans have received considerable attention in recent years due to their ability to trigger defense responses and enhance the synthesis of antipathogenic compounds in plants. Particularly, in wheat, the application of bioelicitors induces lignification and accumulation of polyphenolic compounds and increases the gene expression of pathogenesis-related proteins, which together reduce the severity of fungal infections. Therefore, exploring the use of cell wall-derived elicitors, known as oligosaccharins, stands as an attractive option for the management of crop diseases by improving plant readiness for responding promptly to potential infections. This review explores the potential of plant- and fungal-derived oligosaccharins as a practical means to be implemented in wheat crops.

Assessment of introgression wheat lines for yield, protein yield and resistance to diseases

Aim. To determine the value of breeding traits from new sources by studying the resistance to diseases, protein content and their relationship with the productivity of introgression wheat lines. Methods. Growing plants under infection backgrounds of wheat diseases was combined with the laboratory methods for determining protein content and weight of 1000 kernels. Results. Disease resistance has depended on the pathogen species and the source of alien variability. Prolonged resistance to stem rust has been observed only among the derivatives of the collection sample H74/90-245, containing the translocation 1BL.1RS in the karyotype and T. timopheevii in the pedigree. Derivatives Ae. tauschii gradually lost the resistance to the time of full maturation. Conclusions. The parameters of plant resistance to diseases, protein content and yield, absolute protein content in 1000 kernels should be used for the material selection. The best lines have been selected from 736 introgression lines. They characterized by high productivity in some years, large grain, high protein content, disease resistance, adaptability to local environments and devoid of the wild species negative qualities. The lines are of interest for further breeding work in the south of Ukraine. Lines with leaf pubescence from T. timopheevii and with modified translocation 1BL.1RSm were characterized by low productivity.Keywords: wheat, introgression lines, disease resistance, protein content, productivity.

Understanding Interactions Histological, Cytological, and Molecular Among the fungus P. Striiformis Tritici and Wheat

Yellow rust is caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f.sp.tritici (Pst), which due to its great migratory capacity, adaptation to different environments, and high levels of mutation; is one of the most devastating wheat diseases worldwide. Due to this, several strategies have been implemented to control the disease, the best being genetic improvement. The key to develop resistant cultivars is understanding the interactions between wheat and Pst. Therefore, this work synthesizes the most important investigations carried out in the last 30 years regarding: cellular, histological, and molecular interactions between wheat and Pst. This will allow a deeper and more complete understanding of the interaction between resistance and virulence genes in the yellow rust disease. The results of this work revealed that the early stage of infection, in susceptible and resistant cultivars, is the same qualitatively, but not quantitatively. However, a clear difference at the histological and molecular level, in terms of the amount and type of genes expressed, begins 48 hours after infection. It was also found that the haustorium, in addition to absorbing nutrients from the host; can also manipulate its metabolism to benefit itself, and can make some nutrients on its own. Keywords: haustorio, Puccinia striiformis f.sp.tritici, histological, resistance genes, virulence genes. Resumen La roya amarilla es causada por el hongo Puccinia striiformis f.sp.tritici (Pst), el cual debido a su gran capacidad migratoria, adaptación a diferentes ambientes, y niveles altos de mutación; es la enfermedad más devastadoras del trigo a nivel mundial. Debido a esto, varias estrategias han sido implementadas para controlar la enfermedad, siendo la mejor, el mejoramiento genético. La clave para desarrollar cultivares resistentes, es el entendimiento de las interacciones entre el trigo y Pst. Por lo tanto, este trabajo sintetiza las investigaciones más importantes realizadas en los últimos 30 años, en cuanto a interacciones celulares, histológicas y moleculares entre el trigo y Pst. Esto permitirá un entendimiento más profundo y completo de la interacción entre los genes de resistencia y virulencia, en la enfermedad de la roya. Los resultados revelaron que la fase temprana de infección en cultivares susceptibles y resistentes, es igual cualitativamente, pero no cuantitativamente. Sin embargo, una diferencia clara a nivel histológico y molecular, en cuanto a la cantidad y al tipo de genes expresados, empieza 48 hr post infección. También, se halló que el haustorio además de absorber nutrientes del huésped, también manipula el metabolismo de éste para su beneficio y puede elaborar algunos nutrientes por sí mismo. Palabras Clave: haustorio, Puccinia striiformis f.sp.tritici, histológico, genes de resistencia, genes de virulencia.

Dynamic Diversity of NLR Genes in Triticum and Mining of Promising NLR Alleles for Disease Resistance

Bread wheat is an essential crop with the second-highest global production after maize. Currently, wheat diseases are a serious threat to wheat production. Therefore, efficient breeding for disease resistance is extremely urgent in modern wheat. Here, we identified 2012 NLR genes from hexaploid wheat, and Ks values of paired syntenic NLRs showed a significant peak at 3.1–6.3 MYA, which exactly coincided with the first hybridization event between A and B genome lineages at ~5.5 MYA. We provided a landscape of dynamic diversity of NLRs from Triticum and Aegilops and found that NLR genes have higher diversity in wild progenitors and relatives. Further, most NLRs had opposite diversity patterns between genic and 2 Kb-promoter regions, which might respectively link sub/neofunctionalization and loss of duplicated NLR genes. Additionally, we identified an alien introgression of chromosome 4A in tetraploid emmer wheat, which was similar to that in hexaploid wheat. Transcriptome data from four experiments of wheat disease resistance helped to profile the expression pattern of NLR genes and identified promising NLRs involved in broad-spectrum disease resistance. Our study provided insights into the diversity evolution of NLR genes and identified beneficial NLRs to deploy into modern wheat in future wheat disease-resistance breeding.